Harry Potter and the Green Snake of Slytherin

11.

The Audition

It hadn't occurred to Harry that he had spent the whole night sleeping in the lounge with Avara on his lap, and yet it was already seven in the morning. He would have to go back quickly to the Gryffindor Common Room to get dressed in his house colours. When she woke up, Avara suggested they take breakfast together before he returned to Gryffindor Tower.

On their way to the Great Hall, they encountered a tall, good looking man whom Avara seemed to know. He was walking slowly, almost majestically, his left hand holding a cane made out of the noblest woods.

"Renatus?" The man turned back...

"Glad to see you here at Hogwarts, I didn't know you would be arriving so quickly" said the girl, looking at Troomveld with a glint of satisfaction in her eyes.

The tall brown-haired man smiled "I couldn't wait any longer, Avara. One has to make his own luck!"

Avara introduced him to Harry: "Harry, meet Renatus Troomveld, he's a friend of the family. I told him he could apply for an audition for Moody's job." "Renatus, let me introduce you Harry Potter!"

Harry was quite excited "So you're teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Troomveld?"

"Indeed, and people say that I'm rather good at it. I have waited a long time for the moment I would meet you Harry. You have been doing great things!"

He went on: "But I've got to hurry. Professor Dumbledore is waiting for me and I shall not be late. So maybe we'll meet again very soon!"

Troomveld walked hastily up the stairs towards the Headmaster's office.

Harry hoped he would succeed; he liked the way Troomveld was acting and speaking. Besides, he seemed so familiar to Harry, as if they had already met before.

Albus Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, reading a big book about Phoenixes through the Ages when he heard someone knock at the door. It was probably that Mr. Troomveld. He asked him to open the door himself, which was locked with a rare spell.

Renatus took his ebony wand out of his pocket, spoke "Supra Alohomora" to break the spell and entered the room.

"Good morning Professor, you successfully passed the first test" said Dumbledore.

"With all the respect I owe you, that was an easy one" said Renatus, stretching out his hand to the Headmaster with a grin on his face.

"Very well... Let me explain you the rules: you'll go through a series of small exercises so I can tell if the job is suited for you."

Two hours later, both men were having a glass of plum brandy and discussing the good old times at Hogwarts before Voldemort's rise.

"Professor Troomveld - or may I call you Renatus? - I must say that I'm impressed. I'm looking forward you starting your classes very soon"

"Thank you Albus, the pleasure is for me. Do you allow me to stay in the Castle over the holidays to prepare the classes?"

"Certainly...Feel free to do so, Renatus. Thus you'll get to know your students better."

Troomveld was really pleased and proud for being chosen by Dumbledore. Avara had been warning him that it would not be easy but he had felt very confident.

Dumbledore stayed in his office for the rest of the day, having to help Moody for his research about Mind Control for Hermione Granger. He was also relieved for having found such a good Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in such a short time. Avara von Argentum had proven herself useful one more time.

Suddenly, his eagle owl entered the office in great turmoil and dropped a purple envelope on his desk. Urgent mail rarely meant good news, thought the Hogwarts Headmaster. He opened the envelope with his knife and began to read.

Pernelle Flamel was writing him that her husband Nicolas had died mysteriously last night and that she needed someone to stay by her side in this mourning time.

The Flamels were among Professor Dumbledore's closest and dearest friends. He packed a few belongings into his bag and decided to visit poor Pernelle without further ado.

***

After dinner that evening, Avara and Harry had to do their homework for tomorrow's Potions class together. As they were walking down to the practice room in the dungeons, they met Draco Malfoy who wished them good luck for their Potion-making.

Servana Abbott had asked him to visit her near the Ravenclaw Common Room, but he headed towards Troomveld's office first; he had something important to tell him.